Blog

We’re excited about our upcoming Velocity conference! It’s a new name, new location in beautiful Orlando.
Early Bird Pricing ends next week January 25. Don’t miss these must-see panels, presentations and discussions. Each session will include an industry perspective and insight on how you can leverage NGC, Logility, Demand Management and Halo solutions.

For the past 19 years, the RIS Software LeaderBoard has identified the cream of the crop in retail technology, recognizing the best of the best across a variety of categories. The RIS Software LeaderBoard ranks technology vendors based on customer satisfaction surveys across a wide range of criteria, serving as an objective guide to help retailers find the vendors and solutions they need. Regarded as one of the most trusted and well-known rankings for software vendors in the industry, a company’s placement on any of the lists indicates a winning status. NGC Ranks as a Leader in 19 Categories.

It’s the beginning of the new year, which means brands and retailers everywhere are getting ready to make 2019 the best year yet with new opportunities. And on top of every retailer’s New Year’s resolutions list is to achieve retail’s holy grail: the perfect alignment of supply and demand. But how do retailers achieve a goal that continues to be elusive?

Reports of poor working conditions in overseas factories, a lack of sustainable products and delayed delivery times prove that when vendor accountability and transparency aren’t up to par, a company’s sourcing strategies can quickly go awry. Suppliers, vendors and additional third parties involved in the design, manufacturing and delivery of your product set the precedent for a company’s success. Thus, keeping close watch on them will become crucial in the long run.
Working to maintain ethical behavior through Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives and ensuring Good Manufacturing Practices can help companies avoid the problems that are all too common in the sourcing industry. In pursuit of this goal, making sure vendors comply to certain standards sensibly fits into the picture. A digital vendor management solution can help centralize the process of evaluating, managing and reporting on all the details, which simplifies complexities and makes for a more seamless approach.

Product quality is a telling factor of a company’s success. While consistently offering customers well-made clothing and accessories translates into positive reviews and loyal shoppers, a single quality issue can result in negative press and lasting impressions that will deter shoppers from visiting the store or its site for future purchases. To capitalize on the former and combat the latter, fashion retailers need to implement a quality control solution they can trust.

From the conception of an idea to the detailed design to its sale, a product passes through many touchpoints before it gets into the hands of the consumer. As such, retailers cannot operate smoothly without a Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) solution in place. Keeping track of all the moving parts involved takes real-time visibility into product data and shared information across each department. PLM plays a key role in the digital transformation that’s underway among top brands and retailers. If you’re new to PLM, here’s a quick look at some of the main benefits that a PLM solution can bring to your business.

The fast-paced nature of today’s retail and fashion industry is impossible to manage without digitization. Without digital supply chain management systems in place, fashion retailers run the risk of out-of-stocks, markdowns, defects in product quality, and ultimately losing the trust and confidence of their customers.
Having a digital supply chain is no longer a way of getting ahead of the curve, but is essential to staying competitive. According to a McKinsey report, nearly 90% of apparel chief procurement officers said they expect significantly higher investments in technology by 2030. When a retailer implements a digital supply chain, the benefits are evident, and expand across all parts of the process.

It looks like turkey and pumpkin pie won’t be the only things retailers gobble up this holiday season! NRF is expecting 2018 holiday sales to climb between 4.3 and 4.8% over 2017. That’s up to a total of $720.89 billion for hopeful retailers who are getting ready for the most chaotic time of the year.
There’s even more good news for apparel brands and retailers. According to Deloitte’s 2018 Holiday Retail Survey, 53% of shoppers plan on buying clothing as gifts. However, despite the retail industry’s progress, this Black Friday will be more important than ever for brands and retailers to stay ahead of the major players without sacrificing margins. So, what can apparel brands and retailers do to prepare their supply chains for the mad holiday rush?

In the midst of heated competition and elevated consumer expectations, fashion retailers must hold themselves to a higher standard. This is especially true when it comes to the increased pressure to produce fresh off-the-runway styles. Zara, one of the biggest international fashion companies, is known as a leader amongst fast fashion retailers. Quick turnaround times for design, production and deliverance can satisfy customers seeking the latest trends, translating into retailers accomplishing one of the most sought after goals in the fashion market: gaining loyal customers.

It’s almost time for a night of fright-filled with pumpkin carving, trick-or-treating and haunted houses. As we get ready for Halloween this year, Rubie’s Costume Company is making sure kids and adults alike can dress up as their favorite Star Wars character, superhero, princess, or anything in between. But how did Rubie’s get so big and how do they make sure that costumes are made on time, on trend and on budget?